Fact Checkers Mocked After Fact Checking A Rumored KFC Social Media Post About Black History Month And Fried Chicken

KFC found itself in a quick batch of hot water over the weekend when a tweet claiming that the brand had used a fried chicken drumstick to cast a shadow that was used to make the Black Power Fist icon synonymous with the social struggle of Blacks trying to rise up to oppression. The image claims that the drumstick Black Power Fist was in relation to Black History Month, which is where the fact-checkers got involved. The image itself was checked by Reuters and Snopes, and the image was given a mostly false rating.

I to this day, still can’t believe KFC did this. pic.twitter.com/PQpCWMk1fH

— Mightykeef (@MightyKeef) February 20, 2022

This rumor began going around in February 2021. https://t.co/EwJXQvZ1Qv

— snopes.com (@snopes) February 21, 2022

KFC did not tweet an image of a chicken drumstick casting the shadow of a raised fist in honour of Black History Month. The image was originally used to mark Emancipation Day 2020 by a regional account for KFC, which later removed the post https://t.co/FDfXx6Z8kX pic.twitter.com/VJQjF9ICEN

— Reuters Fact Check (@ReutersFacts) February 22, 2022

The mostly false rating sparked a lot of discourse in the replies to both outlets reporting on the post. Angry Twitter users pointed out that even though the context of the image was photoshopped, with the Black History Month messaging being overlaid on top, an actual KFC-affiliated social media account posted it on Instagram, meaning the image itself, of the drumstick making the fist, is an officially endorsed piece of content.

This, in the eyes of many, would make the fact check mostly true, as KFC did create an image of a drumstick casting a shadow to make a Black Power Fist, which is what the viral social media status that brought attention to it was saying, with only the reason why they made it turning out to be false.

So did KFC or it's affiliates post the 'image of a chicken drumstick casting the shadow of a raised fist'?
…Bc if we take away "in honour of Black History Month."
It sounds like they did and Fact Checkers are covering for them.

— Eve (@Eve_Mind210) February 23, 2022

"KFC did not tweet it, but KFC actually did"

Why does no one trust you that's weird

— Punished Billy (@gigabilly) February 23, 2022

This is why nobody takes ‘fact checking’ seriously anymore.

“KFC DIDNT TWEET A CHICKEN DRUMSTICK AS A RAISED FIST ON BLACK HISTORY MONTH!….it was actually emancipation day” https://t.co/06JYvLECjY

— Rose of Dawn (@Rose_Of_Dawn) February 23, 2022

"No, KFC never made a poster with a fried chicken fist for Black History Month."

"….It was for Emancipation Day."

I can't tell if that's better or worse. 😭 pic.twitter.com/wB1dTVE4JC

— JOLLY J✨ (@DynamoSuperX) February 23, 2022